Improvement in water-wheels



N. PETERS. PHOTo-LITNOGRAFHER, WAsHlNGToN D C cada f sind effin.

Letters Patent No. 112,028, dated February 21,1871.

IMPRGVEMENT iN WATER-WHEELS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making paz-bof the same.

To vall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J AMES Fox, of Charlotte, North Carolina, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Wheels, ot' which the. following is .a specification.

The nature of my invention consists iii- First, the arrangement of a float-valve in the fiume, which isattached to the gate of the fore-bay in such a manner that the flow or pressure of the water upon the wheel can be regulated automatically to any desired degree.

Secondly, ina box or frame, in which the wheel is placedfand which is pivoted' tothe sidel of the iinme in such 'a manner that it can be turned upon one of its sides, carrying the wheel with it, so as to change the shaft of the wheel from a verticrl to a horizontal position, and/vice 'verserav Thirdly, inthe peculiar' construction of the wheel itself', as will hereafter be more fully set forth.

iIn the accompanying drawing- ,Figurel represents a. lan view of my invention. i

Figure 2in apart'section of the same.

Figure 3ds aplan. view, showing the wheehcase turned upon its side, so that its. shaft works in a horizontal position. Y

Figure 4r-is a part-section view, showing the mech anism attached to the Hume-gate. l

Figure 5 is a side view of the oat-valve.

A represents the fore-bay, at which the water enters ;l and B, the flume.

Pivoted to one side, of the flume is a lever, O, to one end of which is attached a Boat-valve, D, placed .ina box-like compartment, E, inone corner.

This box has an opening in its side near the bottom, so that, as the water enters the fiume, it will rise equally in both,

The stem F, to which the valve D is attached, is

graduated to a scale, as seen in iig. 5, so that theV speed or velocity of thewheel is automatically regnlated.

To the opposite end ot the lever G is attached, by means of the bars a, a revolving rod or lever, G, which, in turn, is attachedto thc gate H, leading from the fore-bay, by means ofthe bars c. v

When the water is turned into the flume 1t -rises i in the b'ox E until it reaches the. float D, which, 'having been set to a certain number of revolutions of the wheel per minute, begins to rise, and, relieving the lever C of its weight, making the water by its pressure to close the gate until just an even quantity of water is admitted. Should it close the gate too much, then4 the water will sink, carrying the iioat with it, so that its weightavill again open it.

Extending across'the iume is a bar, I, which serves as a bearing for the upright lever J, to which the flume-gate K'is 'attached by means of the bars c.

Pivoted to the side of the hime, by means of the long rod L, is the frame or box M, in which is placed the water-wheel N.

This frame, turning upon the rod L as a pivot, can be placed-in two positions-one vertical, asshown in iig. 1, and the other horizontal, as shown in iig..3, changing the position-of the wheelI in a corresponding degree. 1

For instance, if-I desire to use the shaft to turn a grist-mill of any kind, I use it in a verticalposition; but should I desire to-apply the powerof the wheel 4for'4 running a saw-mill, I turn the box upon its side, which, bearing the wheel with it, changes theshaitv.of the wheel from a vertical to a-horizontal position, as shown in fig. 3.

' I then-'attach al crank, Odanu place 'adournalupon each end of the-' shafgand the wheel is ready to he attached directly. -to the saw= withoutV gearing.

vInthe frame' M,bearing directly upon the top of Y the water-wheel, isfa perforated screen, P, which serves to catch all-pieces oi' woodv or chunks which may be in the. traten-so as ;t oprevent them from inj uring the wheel. This screen, together-.with the hydraulic press# ure bearing upon the Vtop of the wheel,- `serves tohold it firmly upon its seat;4 v

Restnginfa common 1 Vstep "isfmy water-wheel N, having an ordinary ease, providedfiwitli chutes, Vplaced uponitstop. f

This wheel consists of 'a' cylinder" cast in one piece, and having radialA arms extending toward 'the center so as to grasp theshaft. l

' My buckets are vformed intheside of this cylinder,

.as shown in iig. 2,and are open at their tops so as to,

receive the water from the chutes, then extend downward 4andbackward one quarter of a circle to where they discharge, their lower vparts beingV covered over so as to retain the water. 1

By making mybuckets in this manner I obtain all the advantages which the water can give, viz., concussion',where the water strikes; pressure, as it bears downward and backward; and reaction, where it discharges.

Just at the top of the wheel, and extending over the buckets, is a flange, against which the upward pressure of the water bears, so as to lift it up from its seat..- f

Should the wheel at anytime leak I take ofi' the top case, cut a number of pieces of leather, i, so as to make a packinw, it them to the wheel, put on the case again, andothe leakage is stopped.`

It will be noticed that the water isreceiv'ed upon f its outside, is retained on the outside, andis dischargedupon the outside.

charged on the outside, at the furthestpoint from the center, substantially as shown.

3. The combination of the Hoet-valve LD, levers C andG, :md connecting-bars a. c, when sov arranged :is toopennnd permit the closingv 0i'v the gate, substantizilly :ts specified.

4. In combination with the Hoet-'valve l.ind its levers,

the screen P, case M, rod L, and wheel- N, when all are arranged as described. l

' C. J. FOX.

vWitnesses F. LEHMANN,

CEAS. JOHNSON. 

